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Council reviews plan for one-year red-light camera pilot across high-injury intersections
Summary
Staff presented a data-driven red-light camera pilot targeting 10 high-injury intersections; the council discussed rotating camera deployments, signage, data transparency, and financing with staff aiming to begin a pilot in early 2027 and to issue an RFP to select a vendor.
Charlotte transportation staff proposed a one-year red-light camera pilot at up to 10 high-injury intersections and described statutory requirements, site-selection criteria and an initial financing analysis.
Charlie Jones, deputy director for Charlotte Department of Transportation, told council that photographic citations are noncriminal civil violations issued to registered vehicle owners and that state law requires advanced-warning signage and an administrative hearing process for challenges. Staff said they identified 39 intersections with recent fatal collisions and narrowed a preliminary candidate list to about 10 locations that together accounted for 1,841 collisions over five years and 26 fatal/serious-injury collisions.
Financial modeling staff shared assumed vendor costs (~$5,000 per month per intersection) and a pilot budget of roughly $600,000 per year for 10 sites, noting estimated citation revenue under a $75 citation assumption; under current statute a large share of civil-citation revenue must be distributed to Charlotte‑Mecklenburg Schools, leaving an estimated municipal shortfall to be covered from vision-zero funds in the pilot phase. Staff said the pilot is intended to be data-driven, with dashboard reporting and final metrics to assess crash reductions.
Council members and public commenters pressed staff on rotating vs. fixed camera deployments, signage and public notification, potential impacts on rear-end collisions, vendor contract terms, transparency of revenue and reporting, and coordination with schools on how their share of revenues would be used. Several members urged including camera rotation and strong data-reporting requirements in the RFP. Staff said they will develop an RFP and return to council with a contract recommendation; the target to begin a pilot is early 2027.
Staff also noted statutory limits (no points assessed, citations civil) and the need to coordinate with Charlotte‑Mecklenburg Schools if fines are redistributed under current law. Council did not adopt a final authorizing motion at this meeting but directed staff to proceed to procure a vendor and report back on metrics and contract terms.
